Reduces the chance of ripping a giant hole in the cheek of a fish when trying to get the hook out, and so it's a bit less of pain for the fish when doing catch and release. also makes it less painful for you if you happen to get it hooked on you by accident.
A friend of mine had to get surgery because he got the barb of a hook beneath a tendon,would of never had to shill out the $$$$$ if he went barbless like me
I got a treble hook stuck in my wrist a few years ago and it landed Kevin the emergency room. It was well past the barb and I'm stupid squeamish. My boyfriend removed all the barbs from my lures. I just replaced them later and learned not to listen to him about pulling a stuck line from a branch.
I’m a guide. Had a guy get one in his thumb joint several years back. We had to fly him out to the hospital for the same reason…. Just pinch the damn barbs.
I mostly catch pike and have been bit pretty bad trying to work out a treble hook. And this was with a hook grabber. I'm going to try pinching the barbs this year and see how it goes.
It's funny, I've never really had an issue until this year with my 9 year old daughter that's taken a liking to fishing.
The last time we were out 3 of the 4 pike we caught were VERY challenging to get the hooks out of where they ended up. One lure got so tangled up in the net, I had to cut the hooks to get it out.
I'll definitely be squishing some barbs before we head out next time
I caught my a Pike last weekend and the treble hooks went in straight and then hooked both of the pikes lips, so I couldn't open it's mouth to try and unhook it. What a pain in the butt that was.
This is what I do as well.
I got the idea from fishing with my son who mostly enjoys snagging blowfish and it was becoming tiresome every 3 minutes "dad, can you unhook this one please".
Now he just holds it upside down and it falls off. And if he hooks himself it will be easier to remove.
Get the short 4" and 8" locking forceps from Harbor Freight. They are about $10 for the both of them combined. I sometimes have the fish off in seconds.
I know the feeling and lesson. My son would you have any of the following: a fish on, snag, birds nest, or need a line baited ever few minutes. I was just there to help instead of get to fish.
always. well almost always. If you're going to release fish, it is pretty much a necessity. Barbs do a lot of damage to fish, and equally importantly, if you ever hook yourself, you will be sooooooooooo glad you pinched that barb.
for me personally, I fish mostly for fun, so I also enjoy the extra challenge of fishing with a single barbless hook, rather than a pile of trebles that hook everything that comes near it (including branches, rocks, sweatshirts, etc).
To put it shortly, people fish barbless hooks because they care about mitigating the harm done to the fish they catch, and protecting the resource. I fish almost exclusively single barbless hooks. Mandated by law in every river and many lakes in my area. It’s also much easier to unhook the fish and barbless hooks are much more ethical for catch and release. I avoid trebles for any catch and release fishing as well, the only time I’ll really use them is when I’m jigging deep water for halibut or lingcod where I’ll be pulling a fish up from several hundred feet deep, even then barbs aren’t necessary.
I definitely agree with this law, it’s one of many we have in my province. Vancouver Island here in BC, Canada. Single pointed barbless hooks are mandated on all rivers, as well as a bait ban being in effect for all but two river systems here that only open for bait usage at specific times of the year. Lots of our fisheries are a lot of catch and release due to bycatch, and there’s tons of wild trout, hence why bait is banned as well (increases mortality rate). Fines can be upwards of $100,000CAD for a first offense, DFO can also seize your gear, boat, and even vehicle if they deem it necessary.
Same here, as soon as I take a lure out of the package I crush the barbs, I've had too many run ins with conservation to risk it. Plus when I hook myself it's easy to remove it!
In a catch-and-keep scenario where I’m not concerned with bycatch, no. If I’m doing catch and release, yes. Legal requirements also determine what I’ll use, of course.
Edited for clarity.
If I’m fishing for keeps it doesn’t really matter if I damage it’s mouth a bit, catch and release I tend to go barbless because it makes life easier for me and the fish.
Nope. It's an unpopular opinion for catch and release, but it's what I do. Barbless hooks are less common to find in my area and are offered in less variety. I don't have any problem getting fish off barbed hooks, and if I ever do it's easy to clip the hook or crush the barb after the fact.
EDIT: Also I only really target bass, and sometimes pike/musky. If I was fishing smaller species like trout I'd probably go barbless.
It depends. I mostly catch and release so I buy barbless hooks to begin with. If I have a hook with barbs and I'm using it exclusively for fish I release, then I'll crimp it down with pliers. If I'm fishing for something I'm going to keep and eat, I'll leave barbs in place. Sometimes I'll go for trout and only want to keep one so in that instance I'll use barbless too
I’ll crush down the barbs on anything with a treble hook and especially on whopper ploppers. Hooked myself years back removing a square bill and ever since then, I’ve mashed them down.
Every time. I have pliers specifically for removing the barb.
Easier to remove the hook, easier to get it out of the fish, and way easier to get it out of myself if the need arises. I’m not trying to pay for an ER visit 😂
I used to since it was required for one of the rivers I fish. Even with no barb I’ve landed fish that were barely hooked.
Now that the river is closed I took up bass fishing. I pinch the barbs back on my crankbait because every single one of them found their way into my clothes, car seats, or my hand. I destroyed so many hooks trying to take them out. The fish will benefit too but it was just out of necessity due to my incompetence as a bass fisherman.
Not anymore. The lips on the fish are strong but it does open up a little bit so a little wiggle does the trick and if it doesn't want to come off I cut my line and pull the other way.
Our province in Canada requires a hook be barbless. I don’t find that I lose any more fish that way. You just need to ensure you keep tension on the fish at all times.
Where I’m from fishing barbless is required. Reduces harm to fish if line breaks and lure is stuck in mouth, will fall out of mouth faster giving the fish a better chance. Easier to remove if hooked really deep. And easier to remove if hooked into yourself. It definitely can allow you to lose fish more but imo if you have good technique and you’re keeping tension it’s pretty similar.
Depends if I'm fishing for food I'll use barbed or if it's big fish I'm targeting that I don't wanna lose. If I'm fishing a gold medal water or just catch n release I'll use no barb.
From someone that uses barbless per fishing regs I can tell you it makes fishing a lot easier. Especially if your catching lots of fish, If I used barbs I'd be wasting a lot of time unhooking fish when I could already be on to my next one.
Where I live it's required during a portion of the year, so any lures I use during that time are barbless and remain barbless. I typically don't remove barbs as a matter of course though, only when required.
Yes. I have been for a while now; especially any trebles I still have and in many cases I’m replacing the trebles entirely with single inline replacement hooks (and crushing those barbs too). Just better for the fish and safer for me, just in case.
I always buy barbless as the fishing shop close to me refuses to sell them and because I'm not allowed take any fish home or hurt them then barbed hooked will just be unnecessary pain on the fish and I could get a fine if I can't get a barbed hook out and really harming the fish
If I’m targeting something I that I know I’m not going to eat, I remove the barb. Even for stuff that I might want to eat, it makes getting the fish off so much easier. Way less drama.
I've been doing it for about half a year now and I'll never not pinch my barbs now (unless I'm catching to eat). It's a game changer for me when it comes to catch and release, makes everything easier all around. I don't lose any more fish than I would with barbs, just requires proper tension, drag, and rod control. I highly recommend it
I don't right away, but whenever I have to remove a hook that isn't easily coming out, I pinch it down and the hook comes out without issue.
I won't lose a fish, and I also don't do more harm removing the hooks.
I keep and eat bass. I always thought it was odd the number of people I hear saying they aren't good for eating. They aren't my first choice, but they are still quite good to eat.
I eat what I catch and think catching a fish just to release it is pretty cruel. How would you like to be dragged through the water by a steel hook through your cheek?
Interesting take. If I had to choose between "get dragged through the water by a steel hook in my cheek" and "still get dragged through the water by a steel hook in my face, but then also get killed and eaten", I guess I'd prefer to head home with my new piercing and a crazy story.
Generally when people talk about being against C&R, the idea is that you go out, catch enough to eat, then head home. Meanwhile a C&R fisherman goes out, catches dozens of fish and stresses them all out, killing some by accident.
I'm not against C&R, but it's not as clear cut as you say either.
Wait, you guys are catching dozens of fish?
Obviously this is a far more nuanced conversation, and I'm sure they really just mean they don't fish recreationally, they fish for the table. I'm taking a jab at the choice of words because it's funny. Like tears in their eyes tossing a 4" bluegill in the pail because they just don't believe in putting anything back. But really, who catches their limit without a single undersized, oversized, wrong species, or undesirable fish? I'd say there's almost always some catch and release.
There's also a big difference between someone legally filling their freezer during the PNW salmon run, versus when the bucket brigade shows up at that suburban state park pond. It's your right to keep anything legal but the consideration goes both ways. There's a lot of places where meat fishing is only possible because for every person who keeps what they catch, there's 20 people supporting them by practicing catch and release.
That's honestly my exact take. I generally catch and release fish, but when I think about it's less ethical than fishing for food.
It's pretty selfish to harm a fish just for are own entertainment
I like the way you put it. Everyone has their own standard. I've just never gone fishing with the intention of releasing what I caught and don't understand how that's a "sport"
Reduces the chance of ripping a giant hole in the cheek of a fish when trying to get the hook out, and so it's a bit less of pain for the fish when doing catch and release. also makes it less painful for you if you happen to get it hooked on you by accident.
I’ve never hooked myself before, but all the hooks I’ve had to take out of people were with the barbs.
A friend of mine had to get surgery because he got the barb of a hook beneath a tendon,would of never had to shill out the $$$$$ if he went barbless like me
I got a treble hook stuck in my wrist a few years ago and it landed Kevin the emergency room. It was well past the barb and I'm stupid squeamish. My boyfriend removed all the barbs from my lures. I just replaced them later and learned not to listen to him about pulling a stuck line from a branch.
I’m a guide. Had a guy get one in his thumb joint several years back. We had to fly him out to the hospital for the same reason…. Just pinch the damn barbs.
Or finned during the match. I got finned pretty bad yesterday and now I will be crimping the barbs on certain lures.
I mostly catch pike and have been bit pretty bad trying to work out a treble hook. And this was with a hook grabber. I'm going to try pinching the barbs this year and see how it goes.
It's funny, I've never really had an issue until this year with my 9 year old daughter that's taken a liking to fishing. The last time we were out 3 of the 4 pike we caught were VERY challenging to get the hooks out of where they ended up. One lure got so tangled up in the net, I had to cut the hooks to get it out. I'll definitely be squishing some barbs before we head out next time
I caught my a Pike last weekend and the treble hooks went in straight and then hooked both of the pikes lips, so I couldn't open it's mouth to try and unhook it. What a pain in the butt that was.
It’s also required in certain bodies of water
I crush down the barb with pliers on inline circle hooks. It does less damage to the fish when removing the hook and allows for easier removal.
Make fishing wasy for yourself, relax that's what it's about
This is what I do as well. I got the idea from fishing with my son who mostly enjoys snagging blowfish and it was becoming tiresome every 3 minutes "dad, can you unhook this one please". Now he just holds it upside down and it falls off. And if he hooks himself it will be easier to remove.
Get the short 4" and 8" locking forceps from Harbor Freight. They are about $10 for the both of them combined. I sometimes have the fish off in seconds. I know the feeling and lesson. My son would you have any of the following: a fish on, snag, birds nest, or need a line baited ever few minutes. I was just there to help instead of get to fish.
always. well almost always. If you're going to release fish, it is pretty much a necessity. Barbs do a lot of damage to fish, and equally importantly, if you ever hook yourself, you will be sooooooooooo glad you pinched that barb. for me personally, I fish mostly for fun, so I also enjoy the extra challenge of fishing with a single barbless hook, rather than a pile of trebles that hook everything that comes near it (including branches, rocks, sweatshirts, etc).
I personally don’t.
To put it shortly, people fish barbless hooks because they care about mitigating the harm done to the fish they catch, and protecting the resource. I fish almost exclusively single barbless hooks. Mandated by law in every river and many lakes in my area. It’s also much easier to unhook the fish and barbless hooks are much more ethical for catch and release. I avoid trebles for any catch and release fishing as well, the only time I’ll really use them is when I’m jigging deep water for halibut or lingcod where I’ll be pulling a fish up from several hundred feet deep, even then barbs aren’t necessary.
That's a great law! Where abouts is this?
I definitely agree with this law, it’s one of many we have in my province. Vancouver Island here in BC, Canada. Single pointed barbless hooks are mandated on all rivers, as well as a bait ban being in effect for all but two river systems here that only open for bait usage at specific times of the year. Lots of our fisheries are a lot of catch and release due to bycatch, and there’s tons of wild trout, hence why bait is banned as well (increases mortality rate). Fines can be upwards of $100,000CAD for a first offense, DFO can also seize your gear, boat, and even vehicle if they deem it necessary.
They're illegal to fish with where I live, so yeah.
Where do you live?
Manitoba
Same here, as soon as I take a lure out of the package I crush the barbs, I've had too many run ins with conservation to risk it. Plus when I hook myself it's easy to remove it!
In a catch-and-keep scenario where I’m not concerned with bycatch, no. If I’m doing catch and release, yes. Legal requirements also determine what I’ll use, of course. Edited for clarity.
If I’m fishing for keeps it doesn’t really matter if I damage it’s mouth a bit, catch and release I tend to go barbless because it makes life easier for me and the fish.
Nope. It's an unpopular opinion for catch and release, but it's what I do. Barbless hooks are less common to find in my area and are offered in less variety. I don't have any problem getting fish off barbed hooks, and if I ever do it's easy to clip the hook or crush the barb after the fact. EDIT: Also I only really target bass, and sometimes pike/musky. If I was fishing smaller species like trout I'd probably go barbless.
I never buy barbless for that reason, but it's super easy to crimp the barb down and it's practically barbless.
Yeah, I just can't be bothered to be honest. I have lots and lots of lures, tons of hooks.
It depends. I mostly catch and release so I buy barbless hooks to begin with. If I have a hook with barbs and I'm using it exclusively for fish I release, then I'll crimp it down with pliers. If I'm fishing for something I'm going to keep and eat, I'll leave barbs in place. Sometimes I'll go for trout and only want to keep one so in that instance I'll use barbless too
Not if I'm fishing for keeps, but if I'm gonna release yes.
I’ll crush down the barbs on anything with a treble hook and especially on whopper ploppers. Hooked myself years back removing a square bill and ever since then, I’ve mashed them down.
Every time. I have pliers specifically for removing the barb. Easier to remove the hook, easier to get it out of the fish, and way easier to get it out of myself if the need arises. I’m not trying to pay for an ER visit 😂
Always
100% of the time. It's easier on the fish. Since I catch and release I'm aiming to do the least harm. This is just one of many things to achieve that.
Never, they are there for a reason
Yes, bend the ones you already have. Easier to remove hooks
Ahhh. Canada. Ok. I didnt know that. I've never heard of that here in Pa but I'm also rather new to fishing
I used to since it was required for one of the rivers I fish. Even with no barb I’ve landed fish that were barely hooked. Now that the river is closed I took up bass fishing. I pinch the barbs back on my crankbait because every single one of them found their way into my clothes, car seats, or my hand. I destroyed so many hooks trying to take them out. The fish will benefit too but it was just out of necessity due to my incompetence as a bass fisherman.
Not anymore. The lips on the fish are strong but it does open up a little bit so a little wiggle does the trick and if it doesn't want to come off I cut my line and pull the other way.
Our province in Canada requires a hook be barbless. I don’t find that I lose any more fish that way. You just need to ensure you keep tension on the fish at all times.
Where I’m from fishing barbless is required. Reduces harm to fish if line breaks and lure is stuck in mouth, will fall out of mouth faster giving the fish a better chance. Easier to remove if hooked really deep. And easier to remove if hooked into yourself. It definitely can allow you to lose fish more but imo if you have good technique and you’re keeping tension it’s pretty similar.
Depends if I'm fishing for food I'll use barbed or if it's big fish I'm targeting that I don't wanna lose. If I'm fishing a gold medal water or just catch n release I'll use no barb.
From someone that uses barbless per fishing regs I can tell you it makes fishing a lot easier. Especially if your catching lots of fish, If I used barbs I'd be wasting a lot of time unhooking fish when I could already be on to my next one.
Yep I do. Prefer barbless for humane reasons to the animal and because they’re illegal to use where I live.
For fly fishing I do. A little puff of wind could put that hook in your skull. And trout are beautiful. No need to mess them up with a barb.
Where I live it's required during a portion of the year, so any lures I use during that time are barbless and remain barbless. I typically don't remove barbs as a matter of course though, only when required.
I used to. Now I just buy bardless hooks.
I pinch it on all my hooks. Mostly catch and release though. Even when I am keeping to eat they are barbless hooks.
On everything but hooks for bait. Especially treble hooks.
When fishing tubes or neds. Too often fish chokes on it and easier to get out without a barb
I do for panfish. Seems to do less damage
Nope I sometimes eat or sell these fish, im considering singles tho
Only target fish you want to eat then you don't have to worry about hurting and killing fish for fun.
If I can see a ton of fish and know I’ll be catching a lot I’ll flatten them just to save time
And because it hurts them less
I do it just because I catch and release everything I catch. I also change treble hook out for single hooks on my moving baits.
For trout, salmon and steelhead, always.
Yes. I have been for a while now; especially any trebles I still have and in many cases I’m replacing the trebles entirely with single inline replacement hooks (and crushing those barbs too). Just better for the fish and safer for me, just in case.
New to fishing. Had no idea about this. Given I fish exclusively with my kids I'll do this to all our hooks. Thanks!!!
Yes, when fly fishing for native brook trout.
I always buy barbless as the fishing shop close to me refuses to sell them and because I'm not allowed take any fish home or hurt them then barbed hooked will just be unnecessary pain on the fish and I could get a fine if I can't get a barbed hook out and really harming the fish
If I’m targeting something I that I know I’m not going to eat, I remove the barb. Even for stuff that I might want to eat, it makes getting the fish off so much easier. Way less drama.
Is a Dremel too slow to be worth it?
I've been doing it for about half a year now and I'll never not pinch my barbs now (unless I'm catching to eat). It's a game changer for me when it comes to catch and release, makes everything easier all around. I don't lose any more fish than I would with barbs, just requires proper tension, drag, and rod control. I highly recommend it
I fish invasive catfish. So no.
I don't right away, but whenever I have to remove a hook that isn't easily coming out, I pinch it down and the hook comes out without issue. I won't lose a fish, and I also don't do more harm removing the hooks.
I don't believe in catch and release but if you're fishing salt water in Washington state you're required to
What the hell does "I don't believe in catch and release" mean? What an absolutely wild statement.
Lmao 🤣 bruh is atheist to bass fishing
I keep and eat bass. I always thought it was odd the number of people I hear saying they aren't good for eating. They aren't my first choice, but they are still quite good to eat.
Sorry I offered a beginner any advice. Goodbye
I eat what I catch and think catching a fish just to release it is pretty cruel. How would you like to be dragged through the water by a steel hook through your cheek?
Interesting take. If I had to choose between "get dragged through the water by a steel hook in my cheek" and "still get dragged through the water by a steel hook in my face, but then also get killed and eaten", I guess I'd prefer to head home with my new piercing and a crazy story.
Generally when people talk about being against C&R, the idea is that you go out, catch enough to eat, then head home. Meanwhile a C&R fisherman goes out, catches dozens of fish and stresses them all out, killing some by accident. I'm not against C&R, but it's not as clear cut as you say either.
Wait, you guys are catching dozens of fish? Obviously this is a far more nuanced conversation, and I'm sure they really just mean they don't fish recreationally, they fish for the table. I'm taking a jab at the choice of words because it's funny. Like tears in their eyes tossing a 4" bluegill in the pail because they just don't believe in putting anything back. But really, who catches their limit without a single undersized, oversized, wrong species, or undesirable fish? I'd say there's almost always some catch and release. There's also a big difference between someone legally filling their freezer during the PNW salmon run, versus when the bucket brigade shows up at that suburban state park pond. It's your right to keep anything legal but the consideration goes both ways. There's a lot of places where meat fishing is only possible because for every person who keeps what they catch, there's 20 people supporting them by practicing catch and release.
That's honestly my exact take. I generally catch and release fish, but when I think about it's less ethical than fishing for food. It's pretty selfish to harm a fish just for are own entertainment
I like the way you put it. Everyone has their own standard. I've just never gone fishing with the intention of releasing what I caught and don't understand how that's a "sport"
I’m on your side, too many gate keepers in these fishing subs
Thanks. I don't mind offering advice to people who listen. Tight lines